Lawmakers demand investigation into hacking

By IBT Staff Reporter On 01/29/10 AT 9:01 AM

Two House leaders are calling for investigations into how hackers managed to access and deface government websites this past Wednesday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D), and Representative John Boehner (R) asked the US House of Representatives' Chief Administration Officer to immediately assess how hackers managed to deface 49 Web sites of house members and committees.

Pelosi and Boehner referred to a previous request to the CAO to review and tighten cybersecurity on the sites. However, last night's actions indicate that further review of security procedures are needed, the letter reads.

The attack happened after President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union speech on Wednesday.

Representatives on both sides of the isle were targeted, according to Nation Journal.

Missouri Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan, Democratic Reps. Ray Lujan and Harry Teague of New Mexico, John Boccieri and Steve Driehaus of Ohio were among those targeted.

Spokesman Jeff Ventura in the chief administrative office said the sites that were hit were managed by a third-party vendor, the AP reported.

In contrast, most lawmakers' websites are managed by House technicians.